Gerald Edward Waguespack (The Band)

[CajunAmos]

I was really sad to hear of Dr. Wag's passing this afternoon. He impacted hundreds of lives teaching in the area for over 3 decades, and he will be missed. He was a great teacher, and an even better man. I can't overstate how much he meant for music education in South Louisiana. He influenced generations of future educators and leaders by his great example.

As far as for Dr. Taylor's position, from what I understand, he's leaving at the end of this semester, but due to the amount of time it will take to conduct a search and find a replacement (which can't start until after he's officially left), the basic plan is for grad students to run the marching band in the fall until a full-time, doctoral level replacement can be hired. Word I've heard is that they would like to hire whoever the marching band equivalent of Coach Hud is; that is, somebody young and energetic (with a doctorate) that's currently paying their dues as an assistant at an SEC-level program. That probably won't be easy to find so I'm expecting it to take some time. All that said, I also want to thank Dr. Taylor for everything he's done here. He was the marching band and basketball band director while I was in school, and he was always a great director that definitely helped put the university's name out there as much as anybody not named Hud. He had the band perform on national TV twice at Macy's and once recently on WWE Monday Night Raw, as well as internationally, taking the group on trips to Spain, Scotland, and London. I'll forever be grateful for everything both those men did for me and for the university as a whole.

First, I don't know anything about the process, but it seems like you should be able to conduct a search knowing that the place will be vacant at a specific date. If not, you're looking at a possible extended period leaderless, which is not positive for the program as a whole.

Second, RHP to Dr. Waguespack and all you have done for the university.

[Lafitte the Pirate]

Gerald Edward Waguespack earned his BME from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana in 1971. He immediately began his teaching career in Vinton Louisiana as director of Vinton Middle School and Vinton High School Bands. His tenure there produced the first superior ratings in marching, jazz, and concert band in the history of the program. In 1973, he accepted the position of band director at Rayne High School. Upon his arrival he greeted a program of twenty-seven students. Six years later, the band had grown to over 120 members and was the recipient of numerous superior ratings and awards including the only Superior Rating at State Festival in the history of the school. Additionally, he earned his MME from the University of Southwestern Louisiana (now UL-Lafayette) in 1977. In 1979 Waguespack became the director of bands at Acadiana High School, a position he held for twenty-eight years. While at Acadiana, his bands earned numerous accolades including seven top five finishes at BOA regional and super-regional competitions as well as marching in the Orange Bowl, Rose Bowl, and Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parades. In 1993 the Acadiana Program became the first in Louisiana to have three ensembles rate superior at the same state festival. In addition to the outstanding performance accomplishments at Acadiana, Waguespack pursued and completed his Ph.D. in Music Education in 2000. This degree was earned from the University of Southern Mississippi. While at USM he studied conducting with Dr. Thomas V. Fraschillo and assisted Dr. Steve Moser with the "Pride of Mississippi” Marching Band.

Presently, Dr. Waguespack assists with directing the "Pride Of 
Acadiana” Marching Band and Conducts the Concert Band at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. Additionally, he assists the department in whatever capacities deemed necessary. He is active as a guest conductor, clinician, and adjudicator throughout the south.

Dr. Waguespack holds membership in MENC and LMEA where he served on the board of directors for five years. He served as state chairman of NBA on two occasions. He is the past state chairman of the American School Band Directors Association and past president of Phi Beta Mu. Additionally he holds membership in ASBDA and CBDNA. He has earned many awards as a teacher and director including Phi Beta Mu Band Director of the Year and two NBA Citations of Excellence. He received the John Philip Sousa Foundation Sudler Order of Merit in 1997. He was inducted into Who’s Who in American Teachers on five occasions and received three Lafayette Education Foundation Teacher Awards. He was nationally certified by MENC in 1992 and was the first recipient of the Joe Barry Mullins Fellowship for Graduate Studies at the University of Southern Mississippi.

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I have know Jerry and his wife Amy since they were in Vinton in 1971. I am shocked that he is gone.

[Lafitte the Pirate]

Brock, can you tell us how he died? I cut up with him and his wife at the last two New Orleans Bowl and visit about our time when we were (YOUNG)!!!

[BrockMeaux]

He passed from heart failure.

[HOUCajun]

Brock, can you tell us how he died? I cut up with him and his wife at the last two New Orleans Bowl and visit about our time when we were (YOUNG)!!!

Went in the hospital last Thursday. Thought they were going home Sunday and he was much improved. Things went south Monday. We lost a great man.

[Mobby]

I had the privilege of knowing Dr Waguespack when he was the band teacher at Rayne High School. That man pushed us to be an outstanding small band that won multiple marching competitions. He was a fun and engaging man to be around and UL was really blessed to have him. I know he touched the lives of many but most of all, he made a difference in mine.

[Just1More]

I had the privilege of knowing Dr Waguespack when he was the band teacher at Rayne High School. That man pushed us to be an outstanding small band that won multiple marching competitions. He was a fun and engaging man to be around and UL was really blessed to have him. I know he touched the lives of many but most of all, he made a difference in mine.

You guys were really good. We (Acadiana) would root for you guys at Contest of Champions. Clarence Hebert was our BD at Acadiana and he brought Wag in to put our shows together. Wag was a pioneer in writing shows that paralleled the early DCI groups field drill. I'm really glad I got to see Wag and Amy at the NO Bowl. You just never know when you'll speak to someone for the last time (on Earth).

[Rage2005]

I was in band all four years at Acadiana High when he was director...let's just say I don't have any fond memories of him. No, really. I have no good memories of the man. I'd like to say how I really feel about him, but out of respect for the fact that he is dead, I'm going to refrain. The only thing I'll give him is this--he was a decent band director.

[CajunEXPRESS]

Friends, Romans, countrymen I have not come to bash the band director, but.

Really your post is so poor. If you had something bad to say about the man you should have taken it up when he was alive so he could defend himself. You can couch your words but the intent was evil.

[Boomer]

Wait---was this the guy that started the STM band after leaving Acadiana HS???

[Zeebart21]

I was in band all four years at Acadiana High when he was director...let's just say I don't have any fond memories of him. No, really. I have no good memories of the man. I'd like to say how I really feel about him, but out of respect for the fact that he is dead, I'm going to refrain. The only thing I'll give him is this--he was a decent band director.

He and Amy were/have been friends of my family since 72'. You are a ____ poor specimen of a human being. Definitely keep hiding behind that screen name. All cowards do that. If someone finds out who you are, you might just get an ___ whipping, deservedly so.

Z

[HOUCajun]

Ditto Z's words